Airbus has announced it will end production of its flagship A380 superjumbo passenger jet, potentially putting UK jobs at risk.
The firm said it had made the “painful” decision after Emirates chose to slash its A380 orders by around a quarter.
Due to the reduction and a lack of order backlog with other airlines, Airbus said it would end deliveries of the record-breaking plane in 2021 – 14 years after it first entered commercial service.
Emirates is yet to take delivery of 14 of the aircraft, parts of which are made in the UK.
Airbus said it would “start discussions with its social partners in the next few weeks regarding the 3,000 to 3,500 positions potentially impacted over the next three years”.
The firm said an increase in production of its A320 model would offer “a significant number of internal mobility opportunities”.
Wrong aeroplane at the wrong time - but what a technological achievement!
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:32 pm
by 1DC
Will still be around for my life time and certainly my first choice when i travel, although the A350 and B789 run it close..
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 8:30 pm
by reddo
I've flown on it a few times. Emirates. First and Business class to Australia. My brother's flown Economy and said it's pretty good too.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 10:39 pm
by G-CPTN
Boeing expected supersonic airliners - the development of which was announced in the early 1960s - to render the 747 and other subsonic airliners obsolete.
The 747 was expected to become obsolete after 400 were sold, but it exceeded critics' expectations with production surpassing 1,000 in 1993.
By July 2018, 1,546 aircraft had been built, with 22 of the 747-8 variants remaining on order.
A380 Number built 234 since 2003 as of 31 January 2019 - scheduled to end in 2021
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:45 am
by Ex-Ascot
We came back on one from Greece last year, EK business. Very nice. It was full. Whenever we have flown on the 777 it has been half empty. Apparently because everyone wants to fly on the 380. So why bin it? If it costs more to run than two 777s put up the ticket price for the 380.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:52 am
by Capetonian
They will be around for many years to come, just ending production. I suspect there will be a few in the aircraft graveyards in Arizona before they reach the end of their flying life.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 12:29 pm
by G-CPTN
I believe that two Singapore Airlines A380s were withdrawn in 2017 and are being parted out for spares.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:12 pm
by Rwy in Sight
Don't forget they were the initial models thus heavier than the ones further down the line. So they had a lower value.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 7:38 am
by flynverted
Gimme a T7 or a Dreamburner over the a380 any day. Never flown one, never care to.
Basically, they are all flying metal tubes designed to take pax from point a to point b.
I just prefer strapping my ass into something Mr. Boeing built.
I just prefer strapping my ass into something Mr. Boeing built.
+1
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:15 am
by ExSp33db1rd
I just prefer strapping my ass into something Mr. Boeing built.
+2
" If it ain't Boein', I ain't goin' "
My briefcase today bears the bumper sticker .. "Boeing My Way ? "
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:30 am
by Cacophonix
Wrong aircraft at the wrong time sadly. A Saffer acquaintance of my flies the A380 for Emirates. He is an ex Boeing guy (ex SAA) and he loves the A380. Ultimately he will be one of the relatively exclusive band that flew them. Watching the aircraft flying at Farnborough, light, low at high alpha was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.
Caco
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 8:55 am
by Pontius Navigator
I don't suppose it will happen, but like Concorde, it is an aircraft I would like to fly in. I have at least been in 3 Concordes and a Concordski.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 10:34 am
by Capetonian
It's a fine piece of kit by most criteria except financially. I wonder if Michael O'Leary will be wondering if he could his hands on a few and make money out of them.
Haven't been on one yet, none of the airlines I fly on use to them to anywhere I'm likely to want to go. Maybe CPT if the runway extension ever gets completed to allow the 380 in.
Re: Bye bye A380?
Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2019 11:46 am
by Sisemen
I’m a 380 fan and have travelled on them on a number of occasions PER-MAN and vice versa. The only complaint is that in biz you’re pushed to get a seat not over the wing and the curvature of the upper fuselage doesn’t permit a straight look down.
And the wings are made in the UK too. Not good for our economy at all that this beautiful aircraft didn't sell better. Where are the barges at Morstyn docks going to go now?
